Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-26

less cripple, on the grudgingly given
bounty OF Uncle Grimshew.
In that vague future could be expect
that she would sacrifice the world and oil
fair young girls life to him?
And now in the evening, after Melauie's
return, he and Amy sat amid the glosmlng
(as the Scots call the after glow OF eve)
playing chess in the recess of 6 window
he rather affecting TO do so, being wholly
intent on the sweet, soft face and down
cast looks of his companion, and the
lingering motors Of her slim little hands,
for already the twilight had so deepened
that they, in their whiteness, were more
visible than were the ivory pieces, the
position of which it was almost difficult
to discern.
Through the opea window came the
odor OF stephanotis, mignonette a1d
roses from the cottage garden under the
dewY elm branches. And ere long Ragir-
aid Talbot crept off to bed, happy and
rSdisnt, with a rosebud Amy had given
him from the bouquet st har bosom, to
Treasure carefully IL glass near MS pill
low, as g relic her hand had touched; and
VITA her soft goodnight to mingle with
his dreams, if he had anY, which Was
pretty often the case with this helpless
lover nov.
Then, in secrecy aGd haste, ere ANY
went home to the FicSrage, escorted BY
Dick and his dog BipGo, Melanie told her
al about her love for, end engagement to
Montague L0nsdsle, but not 4 word about
the Baronet's Cffsr; and her little story
so full CT deep and tender interest 10
herself-was barely concluded, when she
was summoned TO the presence Of Uncle
Grimshaw, who h&d inst returned; end
she knew that she had before her q second
edition Of the last interview with her
Aunt GhillingtOn.
CHAPTER V-UNCLE GRIMSHAW'S THREAT.
Melanie he&rd the summons rs il it
were kind OF knell, and the situation
flashed upon her.
She was home again-she had no ether
hOme-to the new, the smaller end more
economical house; and her heart sm1te
her as she remembered the temporarily
forgotten angry and selfish VOW she had
made when her aunt ChilIiugton's invita-
ton came, 10 accept any wealthy or ad-
vsntageous offer that came in her way;
and as she though OF her unc!e's inu2te
selhshness, OF his somewhat hampered
resourCes-ot the ''haudtul," she snd
her brcthers-espeCslly the helpless
Reginsld-Were to him, and sll Sir Brisco
Brsybrooke's $4,000 could do for them.
But then there was poor Montague
and she loved him so!
SIT seems but Yesterday since left you
fer L02dOn, AID alter ali | have seen
there" said she, chow still the world
seems to stand with you here"
"It always does in our house unless
when uncle'5 temper is up" grum bled
Dick.
Bielarie recalled en- episode that occur
red 8 day or two before her aunt's vel
come invitation came. Ii her uncle had
mot much" az he was fond Of asserting,
he spent it largely On himself the
richest vines, g handsome saddle-horse,
some rare dogs, and when in town largely
81 his club. Thus she hsd resented such
remarks as the following:
"What gre you complaining CT now?
Why so silent and moody, g1rl-eh?' he
snogted. "Oh. need not ask; it is that
eternal dance st the yicaTage."
eyes, uncle" said Melanie softly;
"why caRn0t go?"
"Wby cannot you go?' he growled.
ayes, dear uncle; l ask you 50 gel
dom for money"
THE schooner the better. Money is
make the little l have in Birchin-lane; so
put this entertainment cut OF your head;
[ can't afford expensive dresses. You
have all the neCessayies Of life, girl"
"And you deem me silly, grssping, il,
Ike other girls, look for d very little
more?"
az certainly do"
And he cut the matter short By drain
ing his glsss OF Pomery-grano and quit
ting the dinner table for his ganctum,
where he smoked the expensive cigars
and, from Old form Of hAoit, conned the
"money article" while MeIanie forced
back her sears and gave up all idea OF
Mrs. Brendon's dauce q. the Vicsrage.
Reglnsld writhed on his couch when he
heard her speak OF the wished-for dress,
and thought, as he had hope
lessly done many time
before, what he might raise on the secret
idols of his heart, his Egyptian medals
and epaulettes, the poor remains OF his
loved naval uniform; but these would 90
bat small way TO provide suitable
dress for young beauty like his sister.
Matters were thus when her aunt's in
vitation cane, and when Melsnie, in the
bitterness Of her heart, registered the
VOW in questionable VOW that the IN
fuence of Montague Lonsdale dissipated
to the winds.
Mrs. Chillipgtor had written 20 her
brother-in-IsW such glowing accounts of
the impression Melanie mad made in
"society," of the conQuests that were
certain to fell to her share, and finally OF
the proposal CT Sir BriscO, that already
visions Of the time 10 come filed his
mind-gloWing ana comfortable visions
when one, if not all three OF the children
committed to his care ny his dead sister,
would be eff his hands, when
his purse might be occasionally
rel lerishcd by his sfectionate
niece, the nightmare debt scared away,
"the cripple Reggie" relegated to the
baronet's abode, and all things made
pleasant-hopes and visions tnat had
been clouded by the visit Of Captain
L0nsdale, whom he never doubted that
she would now "throw over" if she had
g grain of sense remsining.
lie had an open letter in his hand, as
Melsnie entered end gave him a kiss
which he trigidly endured, and then his
eye glanced at her over it, while his bald
head seemed more shiny, and his two
grey side tufts more stuck up than ever,
His fingers fumbled, neryously about the
! buttons of his vesT until he found his
gold-rimmed eyeglasses, which he settled
on his long thin nose, and after affecting
cree more to glance ct the letter, he
seid:
"Sir Brisco Breybrooke has pro-
posed 10 you g second time, IS your Aunt
ChilliDgton informs mes"